Automatic stabilizing device



I A. T RAPP. AUTOMATIC STABILIZING DEVICE.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYfi a it ll 1 .111

AUTOMATIC STABILIZING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ne as. ioee.

Application filed @eptember 21, 1921. Serial No. 502,273.

To all to 7mm may concern Be it known that l, ALFRED Tnnrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, county oi Milwaukee, and Potato 0t Wisconsin, have invented new and useful improvements in Automatic Stabilizing Devices, of which the :tollowing is a specification.

This invention relates: to improvements in automatic stabilizing devices with particular reference to such devices as are adapted tobe applied to ships.

It is the object of this invention to provide an automatic stabilizing device of such a character that it may be operatively installed upon a ship to preserve the cargo and passenger decks in a normal horizontal plane, regardless of the angles which the ship may assume in its passage across stormy seas. I am aware that it has hither-- to been attempted to provide stabilizing devices adapted to maintain in a level position some small object, such as a table, chair or berth. Such devices of this nature as have hitherto been constructed have. been unwieldy and have used an amount oi space entirely dispropditionate to the benefits derived i'rom supporting so small an object. in the use of the present invention, the entire cargo carrying decks, and passenger state rooms as well, are maintained level by a device which is economical oi the limited space available on board a ship. lit is therefore the principal object of this invention to devise a construction which will be service; ably economical of space while obtaining for the entire contents of the vessel the stabilized effect desired.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a ship providcd with a stabilizing device constructed in accordance with this invention, the hull of the ship being broken away to expose the interior construct-ion.

Fig. 2, is a section taken on line oi: Figure 1.

Fig. 3., is a plan view oi the ship shown in Figure 1., with a portion of the upper deck broken away to expose the stabilizing devices.

Fig. 4:, illustrates a modification of the stabilizing device shown in the previous views to adapt the device for passenger carrying vessels only.

Fig. 5, is an elevation of another side 01' the device shown in Figure 4c.

tively bulloheads 2 and 8 erence characters throughout the several views.

A boat embodying this invention is provided with a hull constructed in any desired or approvided manner. Transversely of the hull, adjacent its ends are located respecbulk-heads 2 and 3 and preferably provided with a ball bearing therein, are the trim nions 5 and 6 upon which the stabilized decks hereinafter to be described have their longitudinal pivots. These trunnions sup port a longitudinally disposed frame work comprising transverse members 7 and 8 and longitudinal side members 9 and 10. It will be'noted by reference to the drawings that the members 9 and 10 follow closely the outlines of the sides of the ship. It will, of course, be necessary in practice to c011- struct these members 9 and 10 in the form of trussesor girders since the entire weight of the decks and cargo is carried by them.

At a plurality of points along the longitudinal girder members just described are journaled the axes 11 oi? the cargo carrying units 12. It will beapparent that it is impossible to provide a single cargo carrying unit of the whole length oi the ship since such a unit would be so long that it the ship began to pitch in a high sea, the ends of such unitwould strike violently upon the hull at the bow and stern and might possibly inflict serious damage thereupon. To obviate this diiiiculty, I have provided. a plurality of cargo carrying units 12, each of which is pro vided with a transverse pivot upon the axes 11 whereby each of said units can preserve its individual stability against the pitching of the ship hull, 1. The units 12 may be Journaled in l provided with a plurality of decks 13, each of which will constitute cargo carrying space. Access to these decks may be had through separate hatches provided in each unit 12.

In loading a ship constructed in accordance with this invention, the first and heaviest part of the cargo will preferably be placed upon the bottoms lt of the several units. It will be apparent that this disposition of the cargo will prompt the utilization of the weight of said cargo in maintaining the whole device in a level or stabilized position. The weight represented by the bags 1.5 in the Figure 2, will not only maintain aid in maintaining the whole frame work built up of the longitudinal side members 9 and 10 in level position from side to side. Thus the upper decks of the several units 12 can be used for passenger carrying and for other purposes wherein considerable space is required for a little load, and such decks will be maintained level by the Weight of the cargo in the lower parts of the units.

Obviously in the operation of a ship constructed in accordance with this invention, there will be no motion of the hull for which the swinging units 12 cannot automatically compensate themselves. When the hull is pitching longitudinally, the units 12 Will swing separately upon their transverse axes. When the hull is rolling from side to side, the units .12 will all move together upon the longitudinal axes of the frame work supported by trunnions 5 and 6. Supposing the ship to be encountering a quarter sea, the trunnions 11, and 5 and 6 must both be used as pivots to allow units 12 to preserve their equilibrium.

It will be noted from the drawings acconn panying this specification that the device embodying this invention is strictly economical oi? room. Units 12 appear to be disposed very close together, but it will be ap parent that since they will always maintain parallel relationship between their ends, a very abnormal pitching of the ship would be necessary to bring the end members into contact. lt will be understood that the illustration ot the hull is purely diagrannnatic. no ribs or other bracing being shown. It such bracing could be shown in the limited space available, it would be clear that there would be almost no waste space between the hull and the bottom and sides of the units 12. This space, which is necessary to the proper construction (it the hull oi the ship, may be covered with a deck 16, adapted to ister when the ship is on a level keel with the upper deck portion of each unit 12. it will be noted that the upper portions of said units are rounded to conform to the arc t which the pivot of trunnions and 6 is the center, so that the frame 9 and 10 can swing the units 12 upon said pivot without disrupting the deck 16.

With reference now to the construction illustrated in Figures 41 and 5, it will be noted that l: have here provided a frame worl: which is peculiarly adapted to be mounted upon ships which are already in use to provide in such ships state rooms for the use of passengers who have a tendency toward sea-sickness. It is not sufficient to give such passengers a berth which will maintain itself in a level position. The rolling of the state room about them is sufiicient to produce the undesirable effect even though the passenger himself is maintained in equilibrium. It is therefore possible by means of this modification oi my invention to preserve whole state rooms in equilibrium for passengers with a tendency toward seasickness.

The device for holding model state rooms in equilibrium preserving position includes a set of vertical uprights and 21, within which are journaled the disc-like members 5 and G which correspond to the trnnnions 5 and 6 of Figures 1,2, and 3. Supported by discs 5 and 6, upon a chord o't' said discs which is preferably located below the diameter thereof, isthe longitudinal girder 9 which may be provided with such bracing as is necessary. Transversely disposed across the longitudinal girder S) are one or more transverse members 22 with downwardly turned ends 23. within which are Llournaled the discs 11. These. discs correspond to the trunnions or axes ll oi Figures 1, 2, and 3. Supported trom the lower portion of discs 11 are the cabins 12 which include state rooms in groups of You r or any other suitable number. The cab ns 12 ('or respond to the cargo carrying units 12 of Figures 1, 2, and It will be obvious that the vertical supports 5 and (a may be located. it desired, at opposite ends ot the ship with the girder member 9 extending longitudinally the Full length of the ship and a Morality oi transverse members 12 in nun-h the same way in which the units 12 are disposed in the construction illustrated in the first three figures ot the drawings.

The cabins 12, each o't which may 0.011% prise a number of state. rooms, are so supported by trunnions a and o and 11 that by their own weight they tend to keep themselves in equilibrium, turning upon pivots provided For them to compensate for the motion oi the ship upon which the device is mounted.

I claim:

The combination with the hull ol" a ship. of a frame work pivoted longitiulimllly ot said ship, and a plurality oi cargo carrying units pivoted transversely of said trunnwork, said units being adapted to swing as one upon the longitudinal axis and to have independent pivotal movement upon their several transverse axes 

